EPA wants Idaho study of burn costsStepping once more into the battle over regional field burning, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is telling Idaho officials they should consider health costs to the public and other downsides of burning before they give a green light to farmers to torch fields this year.

Lack of cooperation hurt 9-11 rescuersNEW YORK – The former police and fire chiefs who were lionized after the World Trade Center attack came under harsh criticism Tuesday from the Sept. 11 commission, with one member saying the departments' lack of cooperation was scandalous and “not worthy of the Boy Scouts.” Related stories

Iraqis want death for Abu Ghraib jailersABU GHRAIB, Iraq – On the eve of the first court-martial in the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, relatives of those still held at Abu Ghraib prison said Tuesday the only suitable punishment would be death – illustrating the potential gap in expectations in the case. Related stories

Voters OK sales tax increase for STAVoters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a sales tax increase to support the Spokane Transit Authority. Sixty-nine percent of the ballots counted Tuesday were cast for the tax, with 31 percent against it.

Senate defeats effort to delay base closingsWASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday narrowly defeated a proposal that would have delayed the next round of domestic base closings until the Pentagon determines what it wants to do with its overseas facilities.

USDA to spend $15.5 million on sudden oak deathWASHINGTON – The Agriculture Department will spend $15.5 million on trying to halt the spread of sudden oak death, a blight that kills oak trees and sickens some ornamental plants including rhododendrons and camellias.

Sudan removed from arms listWASHINGTON – The Bush administration moved one step closer Tuesday to lifting an arms embargo against Sudan, even as it decried the government's role in blocking relief efforts for a huge humanitarian crisis sparked by continuing Sudanese military attacks against civilians.

Israeli troops kill 20 Palestinians in GazaJERUSALEM – Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships battled militants in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing at least 20 Palestinians as Israel continued its biggest offensive in the seaside strip during more than 3 1/2 years of conflict.

Report: Tanker competition flawedWASHINGTON – The Air Force did not hold a true competition before beginning negotiations with Boeing Co. on a multibillion-dollar acquisition of refueling planes and bypassed the normal acquisition process when developing the program, according to a report by the National Defense University.

National newsGas prices expected to remain high Washington The sticker shock many motorists are feeling at the gas pump could last throughout the summer.

Paranoid schizophrenic man executed in TexasHUNTSVILLE, Texas – Tuesday evening after Gov. Rick Perry rejected a parole board's highly unusual recommendation to commute his death sentence or delay the execution, Kelsey Patterson, 50, also lost an appeal to the Supreme Court in the hour before he was put to death.

‘Odd Couple’ star Randall diesWhen Tony Randall won an Emmy for playing Felix Unger in “The Odd Couple” just after the TV series was canceled, he deadpanned, “I'm so happy. Now if only I had a job.”

Nurse finds stolen Stradivari celloLOS ANGELES – A nurse found a 320-year-old cello made by master craftsman Antonio Stradivari lying by a trash bin – and almost had her boyfriend convert it into a CD holder, police said.

In shadows of prison abuse, woman faces another crisisPfc. Lynndie R. England returned from Iraq in trouble. The young Army reservist was implicated in the humiliating abuses of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. She was also pregnant by a fellow soldier from her unit.

Reconstruction scheme isn’t working so farWASHINGTON – Fewer than 25,000 Iraqis are working on projects in the U.S. reconstruction effort, tempering expectations that more than $18 billion in American spending would jump-start Iraq's economy and trigger a surge in goodwill toward the United States.

Iraqis seek more controlBAGHDAD, Iraq -- Members of the Iraqi Governing Council said Tuesday that the council chief killed the day before in a car bombing may have been delayed at a checkpoint in the minutes before the blast by American soldiers who didn't recognize him. Related stories

Sistani demands end to fighting in NajafBAGHDAD, Iraq – Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's supreme Shiite religious leader, demanded Tuesday that all armed forces leave the holy city of Najaf and called on fellow Shiites not to join in a bloody uprising there against U.S. forces. It was his first public effort to end a weeks-old rebellion mounted by the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Related stories

Task force to coordinate Great Lakes cleanupWASHINGTON – A task force that President Bush created Tuesday will coordinate cleanup of the Great Lakes, collectively the largest body of fresh water on Earth, but no new money is going toward the effort.

County jobless rate makes small declineSpokane County's jobless rate inched downward slightly in April, falling to 5.5 percent from 5.6 in March, the state Employment Security Department said Tuesday.

President backs GreenspanWASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who has helped steer the economy for 17 years under four presidents, was nominated Tuesday for a fifth term by President Bush, who said he had “great continuing confidence” in Greenspan, echoing the widely held view on Wall Street.

All cell users can now keep their numbersWASHINGTON -- Starting Monday, people in Spokane and North Idaho can take advantage of rules allowing cellular users to keep their phone numbers when switching to new wireless carriers.

Handling a rocky situationUnder current city regulations, Greenstone Corp.'s new 40-acre housing development on the South Hill would have required a six- to seven-acre storm-water evaporation pond, and that was simply unacceptable to company President Jason Wheaton.

Stewart’s legal woes put halt to showNEW YORK -- With its star facing a possible prison sentence, the “Martha Stewart Living” television show will be put on hiatus after the current season winds up, the show's producers announced Tuesday.

Support building for increase in oil productionABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Oil prices slipped Tuesday as support seemed to be gathering among OPEC members to raise their cap on crude production at a time when many U.S. motorists are paying more than $2 for a gallon of gas.

Housing starts drop, sector still healthyWASHINGTON -- The number of housing projects builders broke ground on dipped in April, but even with the decline the level of activity still suggested that the residential construction sector of the economy remains healthy.

Business NewsAT&T, Sprint strike deal on wireless New York AT&T Corp. has reached an agreement with one of its biggest rivals, Sprint Corp., to offer cell phone service over Sprint's wireless network, the companies announced Tuesday.

Executives complain about softwareWASHINGTON -- Chief executives from some of the largest U.S. companies are criticizing the technology industry in a lobbying campaign, accusing them of selling software vulnerable to hackers and too difficult for consumers to use safely.

Stocks rise on day when volume is lowNEW YORK -- Lower-than-expected housing figures coaxed buyers back to Wall Street on Tuesday, giving stocks a subdued rally as investors grew hopeful that the economy might be cooling. Technology stocks had the largest advance, but low volume pointed to a general lack of conviction in the market.

Homeownership rate drops for working poorWASHINGTON -- Homeownership rates for low- and moderate-income working families with children have declined since the late 1970s, even though the overall U.S. homeownership rate has risen, according to a study released Tuesday by an affordable housing coalition.

Republicans face choice in primaryLast time around, the Republicans emerged from the primary race for Coeur d'Alene's District 4 with nearly three times as many votes as the Democrats. Yet the Republican primary winner, Jim Hollingsworth, went on to be narrowly beaten by upstart Democrat Bonnie Douglas.

‘Sprout’ makes big impactWhen a single mother moved in near Jeffrey “Sprout” Rich, he brought her firewood and, sometimes, food.

Valley may contract out city servicesQuick. Who provides your water service? Who grooms and landscapes local parks? Who patches potholes in the roads – at least occasionally – and who picks up stray animals?

Teens take the high roadDAVENPORT, Wash. – High school students can avoid traffic fines and increases in their insurance rates, but not the third degree, if they throw themselves on the mercy of an unusual court.

Surveyor gets an earful from SchroederThis week Idaho State Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, got a phone call from a telemarketer asking him how he felt about his state senator's voting record on tax issues.

Premera argues for conversionTUMWATER, Wash. -- With protesters picketing outside and attorneys skirmishing inside, Washington's largest health insurer on Tuesday wrapped up its case for converting from a nonprofit to a for-profit company owned by shareholders.

Bonds for Mead, WV passingMost Spokane-area voters seemed willing Tuesday to open up their pocketbooks to support school construction projects. Although a nearly $8 million measure proposed by the Nine Mile Falls School District seemed headed for failure, measures proposed by the West Valley and Mead school districts appear to have earned more than enough support to pass.

Rape suspect held on bond of $500,000A Spokane man was ordered held on a $500,000 bond Tuesday, after he was charged with kidnapping, assaulting, raping and repeatedly stabbing his former girlfriend on Sunday.

Candidate employs consultantKootenai County Commission candidate Claudia Brennan doesn't have time to do much campaigning, so she's paid a campaign consultant nearly $4,000 to handle her first shot at a political office.

Lockes are expecting a baby in NovemberOLYMPIA – Gov. Gary Locke and first lady Mona Lee Locke are expecting their third child in mid-November and say it's a delightful way to celebrate the transition into private life.

Idaho trial to progressBOISE – Prosecutors have shown enough evidence of a conspiracy to aid terrorists that they can start introducing additional evidence against Sami Al-Hussayen, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, even if the evidence isn't directly about anything he did. Related stories

Two die in high-speed crashTwo area men were killed Tuesday morning in a horrific crash when a pickup truck and an SUV hit head-on at highway speeds just four miles south of Coeur d'Alene where U.S. Highway 95 climbs over the Mica Grade.

Mom still in hospital after crashTwo 14-year-old Colbert boys who were seriously injured in a fatal crash Friday on U.S. Highway 195 at Rosalia have been released from Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Boundary school levy passes by 12 votesBy a mere 12 votes, a nearly $1 million levy passed in Boundary County School District on Tuesday, bringing sighs of relief to school officials but also resolve to cut the district's budget to lessen the district's dependence on supplemental levies.

Police find drug evidence, stolen mail at hotelPullman police investigating suspicious activity at a hotel last week found evidence of drugs along with identification and mail stolen from Spokane and Kootenai counties, authorities said.

Anti-gay activists bring show to Coeur d’AleneFred Phelps Jr. brought his wife to Coeur d'Alene Tuesday morning and brought two of his grown daughters, Libby and Sara. And he found room in the rental car for all the day-glo signs denouncing homosexuals. There was also the American flag to be held upside down and a Gay Pride rainbow flag for Libby to step on for an hour.

Gays mark freedom, commitmentLet's just say that the man selling newspapers at the entrance of the Government Center subway station hadn't yet caught the spirit of the day. Marriage comes with three rings, he was telling a customer, “engagement ring, wedding ring, suffering.”

Higher ed board offers intriguing ideaThe following commentary, which does not necessarily reflect the views of The Spokesman-Review's editorial board, appeared Sunday in The Vancouver Columbian.

Experts’ ‘solutions’ risk infants’ livesLittle Angelo finally got justice, though he died too young to even know what justice meant. Angelo Marinda lived only eight months and it took more than twice that long to convict his father of his murder.

LettersDid Bush misuse war funds? Is an allegation by a credible source that the president of the United States committed unconstitutional act news? Is an informed electorate essential to U. S. democracy? Does the leading area newspaper have responsibility to publish those allegations to inform its readers?

Plan would make Washington sales taxes deductibleSome residents of Washington would get a break on their income tax under a congressional plan that seems to be gathering steam after years on the back burner. Election-year politics may be providing some of the heat.

Viking boys take home 5A state titleThere was a point Tuesday when Coeur d'Alene High coach Darrell Hull half-jokingly requested some heart medicine and co-coach Bryan Duncan was scurrying around the golf course trying to calculate in-progress scores of Vikings players.

O’s rookie Cabrera stymies M’sSEATTLE – Rookie Daniel Cabrera won for the second time since he was brought up from the minor leagues last week, leading the Baltimore Orioles over the Seattle Mariners 7-2 Tuesday night. Related stories

Cubs’ Sosa sidelined indefinitelyTurns out, Sammy Sosa's injury is nothing to sneeze at. The Chicago Cubs' star has a sprained ligament in his lower back and is probably headed to the disabled list.

Tuesday’s gamesGiants 1, Cubs 0: At Chicago, Jason Schmidt pitched a career-best one-hitter with 13 strikeouts, and Barry Bonds gave San Francisco a much-needed spark in a victory over the Cubs. Schmidt gave up only Michael Barrett's infield single in the fifth inning for his sixth career shutout and 14th complete game. Bonds, back in the lineup after missing a weekend series against Pittsburgh because of back spasms, scored the only run.

Shootout goes Blackhawks’ wayThere was no sophomore jinx for the Cheney Blackhawks. On a windswept home field, the Blackhawks needed extra shooters to knock off Sequim, 2-1, in an overtime shootout Tuesday.

Changes in store for M’sThirty-seven games into their season, the Seattle Mariners see a season at risk -- and they're about to dramatically change their roster in an effort to reverse course. Related stories

WSU, UW earn berths in rowing finalsWashington State, Washington and California will represent the Pacific-10 Conference at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships from May 28-30 on Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Mead outlasts UniversitySometimes it's a dinger. Sometimes it's a bunt. And sometimes it's both. The Mead Panthers used both -- and four-hit pitching from Kim Watson -- to stop University 3-2 at Whitworth College and win the District 8 4A girls softball title.

National sportsInvestigation rips Colorado football for recruiting failings In a blistering report that stopped short of calling for firings, an investigative panel said sex, alcohol and drugs were used to lure football recruits to the University of Colorado and lax oversight by top university officials was to blame.

KG sorry for war remarksKevin Garnett apologized for making references to guns and saying he was “ready for war” in Game 7 between Minnesota and Sacramento.

Medicine Hat claims first MC victoryKELOWNA, B.C. -- The Medicine Hat Tigers won their first game of the Memorial Cup and kept their hopes for a title alive with a 2-1 win over the Guelph Storm on Tuesday.

Athletes changing teamsMore than a dozen athletes who have changed nationalities were given permission Tuesday to compete for their new homelands at the Athens Games.

HoroscopeAries (March 21-April 19)– You are fun-loving and experimental. You have the ability to unearth others. Some might be startled by, and possibly uncomfortable about your insights. Demonstrate your ability to put your words into action. Carefully evaluate a new purchase. Do some price-comparing.

New girlfriend takes backseat to his childrenDear Annie: I would like to know if it is normal that my boyfriend of three years periodically entertains his ex-wife and grown children, and does not invite me. To make matters worse, his apartment is directly across the hall from mine. He thinks I am overreacting, but on Christmas Day, he had them over for supper while I sat at home alone.

Actually, we did sort of wonder what’s eating herOK, our obsession with carbohydrates has officially gotten out of control: Avril Lavigne said the lyrics to her songs were so angry because she was eating too many carbs. The “Complicated” singer, out promoting her new album, “Under My Skin,” blames her bad dietary habits for her former angst.

BridgeYour lead of the heart two against three no-trump runs around to partner's eight and declarer's nine. At trick two, declarer plays the heart king, which you win with your ace. Where do you go for honey?

Preserves add interest to any mealThere's another use for the sweet jams, preserves and jellies most of us have tucked away waiting for the breakfast toast. A feature in Cooking Light magazine's May issue suggests turning them into tasty sauces and glazes for quick entrees.

War on obesity threatening right to eat junkFour score and billions and billions of hamburgers ago, our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new way of eating, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created hungry.

Tenderizer the trick to good fajitasDear Laura: I'm looking for a recipe for beef fajitas and some information on how to serve them on a sizzling platter like they do in restaurants. -- Linda, Spokane

New boxed meal means fajitas in a hurryIf you're craving the taste of a fajita but don't have the time to marinade meat and chop vegetables, Rosarita can make short work of this Mexican favorite.

Coconut Mango Pudding extra smoothCoconut milk paired with mango makes an extra smooth and delicious pudding. Imagine it as the perfect ending to a meal -- especially as something to cool the palate after the spicy dishes that are so popular nowadays.

Scrub fruit before zestingWhen using citrus zest in a recipe, scrub the fruit thoroughly with cool running water prior to removing the zest. This removes most of the wax and/or pesticides from the surface. You may wish to use organic fruit, which tends to carry less pesticide residue.

KSPS schedules live cooking specialKSPS television viewers will be demonstrating 13 recipes from the latest “Cooking with Friends” cookbook on Saturday during a live special from 11:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

Afterthought no moreOn too many dinner tables the salad is an afterthought, a random toss of greens and garden castoffs offered for seemingly no other reason than that the host thinks it ought to be.

L.M. Boyd Trivia• Q. How do you account for the statistic that indicates divorced people are five times more likely than the married to commit suicide, but the separated are four times more likely than the divorced to do it?

Tough catAntonio Banderas swaggers into an interview with a hint of cockiness that some might recall from one of his more famous roles. Just like his title character in “The Mask of Zorro,” he's brash, funny and charming.

Mott’s add magic to applesauceNext to macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly, the most ubiquitous kids' food might be applesauce. Now Mott's has come up with a way to make applesauce even more attractive to kids -- candy crystals make the applesauce pop and change colors.

Pecans, oats tasty, crispy fish coatingIn this quickly made fish dish, a wholesome combination of pecans and oats makes a crisp coating for the fish. If sole is not available in your market the day you want to make the dish, flounder fillets can be substituted.Sole Fillets with Pecan-Oat Crust

What do you do with all those capers?Look in your refrigerator. Do you have a jar of capers you bought eight months ago for a recipe that called for a tablespoon or two? Did you buy a large jar because it was such a good buy and now you wonder what to do with it all? We're here to help. After all, capers are too flavorful and versatile to waste.What are capers?

Test your etiquetteNot sure about the proper way to shell shellfish? Unclear on how to maneuver spaghetti from plate to mouth? We've devised this Food Manners Quiz to test your dining etiquette. The correct answers come from the book “Miss Manners' Basic Training: Eating” (Crown, $15) by Judith Martin, nationally syndicated etiquette expert. Hint: In some cases, there's more than one right answer. Good luck and, bon appetit.

Average dishes aren’t far from being greatPatio and shorts weather sure came early this spring. I was painting lilacs well before the end of April, almost a month ahead of usual. While we can debate what this unseasonable warmth portends for the water bill, at least it's been an extra-early gardening season. I had my tomato and pepper starts hardened off by the first weekend in May and we were eating baby mesclun salads and lots of spinach even before that.

Get your fill of booksYou might have strong feelings about your favorite cookbook, but is it good enough to eat? If anything, a good book will leave you hungry for more.

Vegetarian today: Make a soul warming mealGrowing up in our house was all about food. My parents owned small restaurants, and food was the topic of discussions. I remember talking about what was for dinner at 8 a.m. Every morning I woke to another aroma wafting from my mother's kitchen. As I packed school lunch, I already knew what tonight's dinner would be.

Eggplant boats are filled with flavorThe eggplant seems to be one of those vegetables that Mother Nature designed especially to be filled with other good foods. In the recipe that follows, vegetables, meat and cheese are combined and nicely herbed and spiced. I suggest you look for 8-inch eggplants to have four main-dish or eight side-dish servings.

Calling all cauliflower lovers: you will go wild for this dishI dearly love cauliflower and broccoli, but my husband hates both as much as I love them! So, I prepare this wonderful salad anytime we're going to a family potluck. I've never come home with anything but an empty bowl. I guess Cliff just doesn't know what he's missing out on.

Midwest Cauliflower Salad

Ankle weights can often do more harm than goodDear Dr. Donohue: I am a senior citizen interested in starting an exercise program but not sure of how to go about it. I plan to begin walking daily. If I strap weights to my ankles, how much more benefit do I get from walking? -- S.W.

There’s a lot to like with the delicious vintages of Bonny DoonThere are so many things I like about California-based Bonny Doon Vineyard -- from its clever labels to its iconoclastic attitude toward wine (which translates as “no attitude -- just fun”). But most of all, I like what Bonny Doon puts in its bottles: delicious wines at affordable prices.

Tips to remain safe around the house this summerWith Memorial Day just around the corner, you're probably already putting together that annual start-of-summer cookout and planning activities for the warm days ahead. Well, don't forget to put safety on your to-do list, as summertime presents a whole new range of dangers for you and your family.

Check out this sneak preview of summer moviesSummer is almost here, and that means another barrage of blockbusters, sequels and remakes. Here are some of the flicks that Hollywood is betting you'll be flocking to the Cineplex to see:

Duchovny played cross-dressing federal agentQ: After seeing the movie “Connie and Carla,” in which a drag queen falls in love with David Duchovny's (“The X-Files”) character, I think Duchovny once played a drag queen himself. Am I right about that? -- Lisa D.

A conversation with Tom Selleck“Scott Turow's Reversible Errors,” the four-hour CBS miniseries, is scheduled to air on Sunday, May 23, and Tuesday, May 25. The film, which is based on Turow's best-selling novel, stars Emmy winner William H. Macy (“Door to Door,” “Fargo”) as a corporate lawyer who is assigned to draft a possibly final appeal for a man (played by Glenn Plummer) who faces execution for a crime he may not have committed; Felicity Huffman (“Sports Night”) as a former judge

Liza spills secret on ‘All My Children’All My Children - Liza told JR that Tad knew about Babe's non-annulment, but kept the news secret to help Krystal. Erica was plagued by images of Jack. Meanwhile, Aidan decided to find her connection to Bobby. Anita refused to invest in Bobby's latest venture. Erica had a nightmare that she lost the people she loved in a game of cards with her father, Eric. Greenlee told Ryan she could accept a loveless marriage with him. Later, Ryan was stunned when Kendall appeared before